If thrawn is confirmed as canon, then what does that mean for other species than humans in the Imperial military? Are near-humans A-OK?

I`ll start a thread about this...

If thrawn is confirmed as canon, then what does that mean for other species than humans in the Imperial military? Are near-humans A-OK?

I`ll start a thread about this...

In the original source material, Thrawn's rising to the rank of Grand Admiral, (much less any significant rank at all) was due to his sheer tactical genius, and it was in spite of his being "alien". The Emperor purposely instilled in the Empire an intense sense sense of anti alien bias and persecution of non-humans.

If thrawn is confirmed as canon, then what does that mean for other species than humans in the Imperial military? Are near-humans A-OK?

I`ll start a thread about this...

In the original source material, Thrawn's rising to the rank of Grand Admiral, (much less any significant rank at all) was due to his sheer tactical genius, and it was in spite of his being "alien". The Emperor purposely instilled in the Empire an intense sense sense of anti alien bias and persecution of non-humans.

Right, and it sounds like we're going to find out how that happened in the new canon as well. I'd suspect it'd be very similar.

From a Q&A with Zahn :

Q: Can you give us any hints about the story and what readers will learn in the new book?

Thrawn will span several years of the Star Wars timeline, beginning with his first encounter with the Empire and ending just before the opening of Rebels Season 3.

In the original source material, Thrawn's rising to the rank of Grand Admiral, (much less any significant rank at all) was due to his sheer tactical genius, and it was in spite of his being "alien". The Emperor purposely instilled in the Empire an intense sense sense of anti alien bias and persecution of non-humans.

To be fair, Sheev Palpatine was from Naboo, so for much of his life alien=Gungan.

Thrawn was originally exiled to the fringes due to the Empire's (supposed) xenophobia and only recalled himself after the Empire started to collapse. If he's a more mainstream character now, does that mean the stupid narrative of xenophobia/sexism that's been carried far to long is being discarded?

One could certainly hope.

Thrawn was originally exiled to the fringes due to the Empire's (supposed) xenophobia and only recalled himself after the Empire started to collapse. If he's a more mainstream character now, does that mean the stupid narrative of xenophobia/sexism that's been carried far to long is being discarded?

One could certainly hope.

Most assuredly not. Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Thrawn was originally exiled to the fringes due to the Empire's (supposed) xenophobia and only recalled himself after the Empire started to collapse. If he's a more mainstream character now, does that mean the stupid narrative of xenophobia/sexism that's been carried far to long is being discarded?

One could certainly hope.

Most assuredly not. Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Was that ever confirmed? I always thought the was Empre fanboyism to justify Palpatine's massive military buildup. Empire would have lost anyway.

Thrawn was originally exiled to the fringes due to the Empire's (supposed) xenophobia and only recalled himself after the Empire started to collapse. If he's a more mainstream character now, does that mean the stupid narrative of xenophobia/sexism that's been carried far to long is being discarded?

One could certainly hope.

Most assuredly not. Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Was that ever confirmed? I always thought the was Empre fanboyism to justify Palpatine's massive military buildup. Empire would have lost anyway.

No, it was confirmed, specifically by the Chiss forces themselves and Baron Soontier Fel, an ally of the New Republic, not through "standard Imperial Channels".

I like the xenophobia in the Empire. It fits! The sexism on the other hand, is just boring. I have lots of female imperials in my game, both troopers and high ranking officers. Kind of because one of the PC's in my game has Tarkin as his last name and his ISB agent sister and her stormtrooper clones are his main antagonists... And the adversary cards have female army troopers and others, so I am reminded to throw in some bad women here and there . .. I do miss hermaphrodite hutts though..

Hmm.. Not sure I agree with his defenses, soak, or wounds. The man was killed by a single Noghri, not a hail of blaster fire.

Well... I was going off a very vague memory of Thrawn. I read those stories too long ago to recall clearly.

I'm not worried about too many wounds. Thrawn was brought down by a Noghri, probably via crit with a vicious 2 weapon, 4 ranks of lethal blows, and possibly extra advantages, leading to +60-80 on the table. Not too hard for a fatality.

I like the xenophobia in the Empire. It fits! The sexism on the other hand, is just boring. I have lots of female imperials in my game, both troopers and high ranking officers. Kind of because one of the PC's in my game has Tarkin as his last name and his ISB agent sister and her stormtrooper clones are his main antagonists... And the adversary cards have female army troopers and others, so I am reminded to throw in some bad women here and there . .. I do miss hermaphrodite hutts though..

Tarkin is a heavy name to carry.

I like the xenophobia in the Empire. It fits! The sexism on the other hand, is just boring. I have lots of female imperials in my game, both troopers and high ranking officers. Kind of because one of the PC's in my game has Tarkin as his last name and his ISB agent sister and her stormtrooper clones are his main antagonists... And the adversary cards have female army troopers and others, so I am reminded to throw in some bad women here and there . .. I do miss hermaphrodite hutts though..

Tarkin is a heavy name to carry.

Feel free to elaborate on anything about the Tarkin family that could help me make the game more interesting for my players. .. He is in hiding and using a fake name though.

I like the xenophobia in the Empire. It fits! The sexism on the other hand, is just boring. I have lots of female imperials in my game, both troopers and high ranking officers. Kind of because one of the PC's in my game has Tarkin as his last name and his ISB agent sister and her stormtrooper clones are his main antagonists... And the adversary cards have female army troopers and others, so I am reminded to throw in some bad women here and there . .. I do miss hermaphrodite hutts though..

Tarkin is a heavy name to carry.

Feel free to elaborate on anything about the Tarkin family that could help me make the game more interesting for my players. .. He is in hiding and using a fake name though.

Other than beeing hated by all peaceloving people of the galaxies, because Tarkin was "framed" to take the total blame for destroying Alderaan which was as peacelovin world without weapons?

...

Oh if you are considering "EU/Legends" Admiral Daala had a love affair with Tarkin so she could be an interessting encounter... while on her revenge path, meeting a heir to her beloved... well that would mean that her beloved had also another beloved...

If you're going to introduce a popular Legends character, Thrawn is a very safe choice. I liked Mara Jade and I like the idea of Emperor's Hand characters but the window for introducing her is closed. That said, I approve and 13 year-old me from 1991 approves.

Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

*blargh!*

The Yuuzhan Vong fall so far outside of the central narrative theme of a fairy-tale space fantasy that I'm still baffled that, as a concept, they made it past Lucasfilm's book group. Jaxxon the Space Rabbit was awful as well but he (sort of) fit the milieu.

If you're going to introduce a popular Legends character, Thrawn is a very safe choice. I liked Mara Jade and I like the idea of Emperor's Hand characters but the window for introducing her is closed. That said, I approve and 13 year-old me from 1991 approves.

Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

*blargh!*

The Yuuzhan Vong fall so far outside of the central narrative theme of a fairy-tale space fantasy that I'm still baffled that, as a concept, they made it past Lucasfilm's book group. Jaxxon the Space Rabbit was awful as well but he (sort of) fit the milieu.

I wouldn't say the book on Mara Jade is completely closed, but I will say, she would't fit into Rebels . Mara was an extremelt popular character. In fact, she was the only EU character to ever make the Top 20 list of all time favorite SW characters. Even Thrawn didn't make that list.

Hmm.. Not sure I agree with his defenses, soak, or wounds. The man was killed by a single Noghri, not a hail of blaster fire.

Well... I was going off a very vague memory of Thrawn. I read those stories too long ago to recall clearly.

I'm not worried about too many wounds. Thrawn was brought down by a Noghri, probably via crit with a vicious 2 weapon, 4 ranks of lethal blows, and possibly extra advantages, leading to +60-80 on the table GM Fiat . Not too hard for a fatality.

Honestly, if someone was going to assassinate the End Boss during the final showdown of the campaign, I wouldn't bother rolling. Thrawn was killed by the narrative, not that Ruuk got three triumphs and a crit above 150 on one roll.

If you're going to introduce a popular Legends character, Thrawn is a very safe choice. I liked Mara Jade and I like the idea of Emperor's Hand characters but the window for introducing her is closed. That said, I approve and 13 year-old me from 1991 approves.

Even in the original EU, Thrawn's "exile" story was a cover for an actual mission Thrawn was assigned in the Unknown regions. Namely as a vanguard against the Yuuzhan Vong.

*blargh!*

The Yuuzhan Vong fall so far outside of the central narrative theme of a fairy-tale space fantasy that I'm still baffled that, as a concept, they made it past Lucasfilm's book group. Jaxxon the Space Rabbit was awful as well but he (sort of) fit the milieu.

I wouldn't say the book on Mara Jade is completely closed, but I will say, she would't fit into Rebels . Mara was an extremelt popular character. In fact, she was the only EU character to ever make the Top 20 list of all time favorite SW characters. Even Thrawn didn't make that list.

Imagine that, a bunch of Star Wars nerds voted for the stunning red head in tight pleather as one of their favourite characters..

I'd vote for her!

Come to think of it, Kylo Ren appears pretty much to be a gender-swapped Mara Jade.

Come to think of it, Kylo Ren appears pretty much to be a gender-swapped Mara Jade.

Nope. Not really. More like a repackaged Jacen Solo/Darth Cadeus. Mara started out her career with the Empire and ultimately joined the New Republic and Jedi. Kylo Ren, like Jacen Solo, started out as a Jedi and turned to the Dark Side.

Consider that Mara Jade predates Jacen by decades. Also consider that Kylo Ren is a Darksider feeling a pull from the light, much like Mara Jade when she first appeared. And then consider that Rey could be seen as a gender-swapped Luke Skywalker.

When somebody posits an idea about a book, you discuss that idea and that book. You don't reply with a "Nope" and a feint to a different book and/or idea.

Consider that Mara Jade predates Jacen by decades. Also consider that Kylo Ren is a Darksider feeling a pull from the light, much like Mara Jade when she first appeared. And then consider that Rey could be seen as a gender-swapped Luke Skywalker.

When somebody posits an idea about a book, you discuss that idea and that book. You don't reply with a "Nope" and a feint to a different book and/or idea.

First off, Mara was never Dark Side, as per her story arc. She was essentially "Force Neutral". Unlike Kylo Ren, She didn't start out as a Jedi, turn to the Dark Side and now feeling the pull of the light. She started out as a servant of the Emperor with minimal Force training (none in the use of the Dark Side), lost her Master, became a Smuggler and eventually became a Jedi Master and wife to Luke. This is completely different from Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren's story more closely mirrors Jacen Solo's, including the fact that both are the son of Han and Leia, both start out as students of Luke, both fall to the Dark Side, and both betray the new Jedi. There is no comparison to Mara jade there. Kylo Ren is nothing like Mara Jade.

You are trying to make a comparison where there is none.

[some stuff about stuff]

ANYWAYS ABOUT THRAWN

(In my best Adam Savage nerd voice): Actually, Thrawn is in no way like Hannibal from Silence of the Lambs. First of all, unlike Hannibal, he is not a forensic psychiatrist. He started out as a career military officer. Second, he is not human. He is a Chiss, exiled breaking the taboo against preemptive strikes, who was discovered by a young imperial captain. Third, and most importantly, he doesn't eat people. This is completely different from Hannibal.

Now let me enumerate the ways in which Thrawn is completely different from Sherlock Holmes, to show you people once and for all that you are making a comparison where there is none to be made. And you know this is true because my boldface makes this extra authoritative.

I like the xenophobia in the Empire. It fits! The sexism on the other hand, is just boring. I have lots of female imperials in my game, both troopers and high ranking officers. Kind of because one of the PC's in my game has Tarkin as his last name and his ISB agent sister and her stormtrooper clones are his main antagonists... And the adversary cards have female army troopers and others, so I am reminded to throw in some bad women here and there . .. I do miss hermaphrodite hutts though..

I always thought the Empire's sexism in Legends was stupid as well. It was just an attempt by KJA to make his female Imperial admiral extra special, a poor copy of Thrawn being an alien who became a Grand Admiral And thanks to either his horrible writing or his sexism she comes off as sleeping her way to the top because she has a very high ranking lover and can't score a tactical victory against the New Repulic without an asurd advantage in military strength.